Page 62 of The Callahan Effect

The conversation gradually wandered away from the subject of me and settled into something far more comfortable. Mom wanted to know whether Jack was enjoying medical school despite the workload, and he admitted through another message that enjoyment sometimes depended entirely on how many hours of sleep he'd managed the night before. Dad laughed at that, pointing out that every doctor he'd ever known had complained about the same thing, while Emma declared she'd made the right decision avoiding medicine altogether because she preferred courses that allowed more than four hours in bed.

Watching Jack become part of the laid-back nature of my family amazed me. Less than an hour earlier they'd been complete strangers. Now they were teasing one another as though they'd been sharing Sunday evenings together for years.

Eventually Mom asked the question I'd expected from the beginning.

"What made you choose ear, nose and throat surgery, Jack?"

Jack's fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

He'd already explained to me that he wanted to become an ENT surgeon, but he'd never told me why. Whatever memories sat behind that decision clearly weren't something he discussed easily.

I've wanted to help children with conditions affecting speech and hearing since I was young.

"That sounds like exactly the right reason to choose a specialty," Dad approved.

"It does," Mom agreed. "Patients are fortunate to have doctors who genuinely care why they're there."

Jack acknowledged the compliment with a grateful nod but didn't add anything further. I sensed there was much more to the story than he'd written, yet I respected the fact he wasn't ready to share it. One day, when he wanted to tell me, he would and I'd be ready.

Emma leaned a little closer to the camera, studying Jack.

"Can I ask you something?"

Of course.

"Has my brother been this happy ever since you met him?"

I groaned.

"Em..."

She ignored me.

Not every minute. Hockey still stresses him out. But he's happiest when he forgets to think so much.

I read the words aloud before looking at him.

"I overthink things?"

Jack met my gaze and nodded.

Emma laughed.

"He's got you figured out already, brother."

"I'd say that's a very fair assessment," Mom added.

Dad looked at me over the rim of his mug.

"Your mother's been telling you that since you were ten."

I shook my head.

"I was hoping someone would eventually prove her wrong."

"Not a chance," Emma replied.

Jack's grin widened as he watched my family gang up on me.